How do I know if I’m striking too hard?

by Curt

One of my instructors tells me that I’m hitting too hard, but then another instructor tells me I’m hitting too soft and to not be afraid of hurting them.

When I hit harder I don't even feel like I am hitting very hard, I’m just trying to use good technique.

When I hit softly and slowly, it tends to be very sloppy and not worth doing. I don't feel like I have an inbetween since my "hard" hits feel somewhat weak to me. How can I fix this?

Answer: Very good question and also very hard thing to fix. Probably the problem is not the strength of your strike but “sae”. Sae can be translated as “sharpness”.

Sae is not something we can get right away. It needs years and years of practice. Have you heard of tenouchi? In order to have a good sae, we have to have a good tenouchi.

We all know the right hand should be relaxed until we strike a target. At the moment our shinai hit a target, the right hand should be tightened and relaxed again almost immediately after we struck.

I recommend learning “sae” by not only watching but also hearing the sound made by people with high grade when they hit a target. It sounds very different.

If you work on the timing to tighten your right hand at the moment of hitting a target, you may be able to figure out what your tenouchi should be more quickly. I do not suggest working on the strength of your strike too much.

Hope this helps.